I WAS interested to read the letter from Ian Ferris last week about the fields and grass areas in Woolston and Birchwood not being cut.

While I sympathise with Ian who says he can’t even see his three year-old daughter in the fields where they walk – I fear this is part of essential cost-cutting by the council which has more millions to shave off its budget.

It can’t be easy deciding where to make cuts and keep everyone happy. It has to make priorities and closing nurseries or axing lollipop ladies would have far more impact than long grass.

Perhaps those people serving community orders could give grass cutting a go?

But although I understand Ian’s view, I really like the rather natural look of some of our hedgerows, fields and grass verges.

Even some of the roundabouts now have an abundance of wild flowers growing on them, which look really lovely.

I can certainly understand Ian’s daughter struggling to walk in the long fields because when I walk my son’s dog, Dougal, who is probably not even a foot tall, he disappears among all this flora and fauna, but he loves the long grass and enjoys nothing better than romping through it or rolling around in it.

I think we’re rather obsessed in this country with neatly trimmed lawns, bushes and regimented rows of flowers, when actually a wilder look can be just as appealing if not more so.

Of course there will come a point when things get out of hand, but I don’t think we’ve reached that just yet.

* Speaking of the council having to save money, how aggravating is it that the owner of the infamous tyre wall at Kingsway bridge is fighting the court ruling.

How much has this man cost us, the Warrington taxpayers already?

Unbelievably he says his actions are in the best interests of the site but I don’t see how constructing a monstrous pile of old tyres can be in any way a positive action?

He’s tried placing advertisements on there and that’s been ruled illegal yet still he protests.

Surely that site could be used for any number of useful purposes which could be commercially successful without upsetting the residents who live near there or equally the rest of us who have to drive past the eyesore.

Thankfully chairman of the magistrates, John Gartside, used some common sense to say it was having a negative impact on the neighbourhood and the owner was ordered to pay £1,600 in court costs.

However, I’m not convinced that this is the end of it.

* The story of the missing swan and six eggs which have disappeared from Ackers Pit in Stockton Heath is horrifying.

Apart from the safety of the male swan who has vanished what about the poor female who has lost everything?

She had been sitting on her nest for 40 days and then her soon-to-be-hatched offspring are snatched away.

It’s just too awful. I hope the reward being offered by Crimestoppers will help find them and those responsible for this heinous crime.